Capital of Cyprus: Nicosia — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Cyprus is Nicosia. Cyprus sits in Europe, has a population of 1,251,488, and uses the EUR. Official languages include Greek, Turkish.
Quick facts
- Capital: Nicosia
- Continent: Europe
- Population: ~1,251,488
- Area: 9,251 km²
- Population density: 135 people per km²
- Official languages: Greek, Turkish
- Currency: EUR
- ISO code: CY
How big is Cyprus?
By population, Cyprus ranks 157th in the world, holding roughly 0.02% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 164th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Cyprus has 135 people per square kilometre, which is about 2.3 times the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Europe, Cyprus is the 37th most populous country of 46.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Cyprus in population are Mauritius (1,299,469) and Eswatini (1,201,670).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Lebanon (10,452 km²) and Kosovo (10,887 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Greek is spoken officially in 2 countries in this dataset, including Greece.
The EUR is not unique to Cyprus — it is also used by Andorra, Austria, Belgium and Croatia, and 21 others. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.
How to remember Cyprus
Nicosia is the capital, and it sits inland in the middle of the island rather than on the coast. For the flag, Cyprus is the one that shows its own island in copper, because copper made ancient Cyprus rich.
The flag of Cyprus: white, copper and green
🇨🇾 The flag is a white flag with a copper-coloured map of the island above two crossed green olive branches. The olive branches and the white background stand for peace between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. The copper colour stands for the copper ore on the island, which may have given Cyprus its name.
Region and neighbours
Cyprus is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey and west of Syria and Lebanon. As an island country it has no land neighbours.
Three facts about Cyprus
- Cyprus is the third-largest island in the Mediterranean, after Sicily and Sardinia.
- Rich deposits of copper made ancient Cyprus important to the empires around it.
- The flag of Cyprus and the flag of Kosovo are the only national flags with a map of the country on them.
Sources: Wikipedia: Cyprus, Wikipedia: Flag of Cyprus, Wikipedia: Nicosia, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Cyprus
- European capitals quiz — match Cyprus to Nicosia
- European flags quiz — spot the Cyprus flag among its neighbours
- Island nations quiz — Cyprus is an island country
Cyprus capital quiz
What is the capital of Cyprus 🇨🇾?
- Nicosia
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Nicosia
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- Oslo
- Tallinn
- Vilnius
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Tallinn
What is the capital of Kosovo 🇽🇰?
- Tirana
- Paris
- Lisbon
- Pristina
Show answer
Pristina
What is the capital of Latvia 🇱🇻?
- Riga
- Belgrade
- Bucharest
- Helsinki
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Riga
What is the capital of North Macedonia 🇲🇰?
- Minsk
- ReykjavÃk
- Helsinki
- Skopje
Show answer
Skopje
Cyprus is also in the Middle East capitals quiz.
Cyprus in Europe
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Russia, Germany, United Kingdom and France.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Europe is the block Cyprus belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Cyprus.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Cyprus?
The capital of Cyprus is Nicosia.
What is the population of Cyprus?
About 1,251,488, making it the 157th most populous country in the world.
How big is Cyprus?
9,251 square kilometres, ranking 164th by land area, at a density of 135 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Cyprus use?
The EUR, shared with 25 other countries.
What are the colours of the Cyprus flag?
The flag of Cyprus is a white flag with a copper-coloured map of the island above two crossed green olive branches. The olive branches and the white background stand for peace between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. The copper colour stands for the copper ore on the island, which may have given Cyprus its name.
Which countries border Cyprus?
None. Cyprus is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey and west of Syria and Lebanon, so it has no land borders with other countries.
How can I remember the capital of Cyprus?
Nicosia is the capital, and it sits inland in the middle of the island rather than on the coast. For the flag, Cyprus is the one that shows its own island in copper, because copper made ancient Cyprus rich.
More capitals to learn
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